Tuna Melt Sandwich
Our tuna melt sandwich, featuring creamy tuna salad and gooey melted cheese on perfectly toasted sourdough sandwich bread, is the ultimate quick and delicious meal you’ll want to make again and again!
A tuna melt is like the ultimate comfort food mashup! Creamy tuna salad is paired with gooey melted cheese, all nestled between perfectly toasted bread - it's basically a grilled cheese dressed up with tuna salad.
Pair it with some crunchy chips, tangy pickles, and a side of creamy coleslaw, and you've got a delicious, satisfying meal that hits all the right spots!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- tuna salad: A mix of albacore tuna, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lemon juice, tangy pickles, red onions and salt and pepper. Tuna salad must have some crunch so swap the red onions for green onions or chives and replace the pickles with capers or celery for a crunchy alternative to your tuna salad.
- bread: For the bread, choose any type you like, but I highly recommend trying fresh homemade sourdough sandwhich bread. Its sturdy texture stands up perfectly to the rich filling, so it doesn't get soggy.
- cheese: Feel free to use your favorite cheese in this tuna melt recipe. I'm opting for sharp cheddar slices because when melted, they create a wonderfully rich, thick, and gooey layer. American cheese, provolone, swiss, and pepperjack all pair well with this sandwich.
- butter: Butter is spread thinly on the outside of the tuna melt sandwich to give it a crispy, golden crust.
How to make a Tuna Melt Sandwich
Step 1: Prepare the tuna salad
In a bowl, add the drained tuna, mayo, pickles, red onion, dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Mix
Use a fork to flake the tuna apart and mix all the ingredients until they are well combined.
Step 3: Butter the bread
Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each bread slice.
Step 4: Top the bread with tuna salad
Spread the tuna salad evenly over the unbuttered sides of two slices of bread.
Step 5: Top with cheese
Top the tuna salad with 1 or 2 slices of cheddar cheese.
Step 6: Add the remaining bread
Top the sandwiches with the remaining bread, buttered sides facing up.
Step 7: Cook the sandwiches
Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sandwiches to the pan, cover with a lid, and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 8: Flip and serve
Using a spatula, flip the sandwiches and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy and golden.
Transfer to a plate and cut in half.
Pro Tips
Opt for tuna in water - Using canned tuna in water instead of oil for this recipe keeps the tuna salad lighter and allows the flavors of the other ingredients, like mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, to shine through without being overpowered by the oil.
Drain the tuna well - Make sure to drain the tuna thoroughly to avoid a soggy sandwich.
Cook over medium low heat - This allows the sandwich to cook evenly, so the tuna salad warms through and gives time for the cheese to melt without the bread burning.
Cover the pan with a lid - Once the sandwich is in the pan, cover it with a lid. This traps the heat and helps the cheese melt faster. It also helps warm up the tuna mixture inside.
What to serve with a tuna melt sandwich
- Blueberry Goat Cheese Spinach Salad
- Corn and Red Cabbage Slaw
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Oil and Vinegar Potato Salad
How to Store
Wrap the sandwich tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place the sandwich in a skillet over medium-low heat, cover with a lid to melt the cheese evenly, and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until heated through and crispy.
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Tuna Melt Sandwhich
INGREDIENTS
Tuna Salad
- 1 5 oz can tuna in water (drained well)
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 pickle spears (or ½ of a whole, chopped)
- 2 tablespoons red onion (diced)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- salt (to taste)
Sandwich
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2-4 slices cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
INSTRUCTIONS
- Drain the water from the tuna. In a bowl, add the drained tuna, mayo, pickles, red onion, dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Use a fork to flake the tuna apart and mix until well combined.
- Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of each bread slice. Spread the tuna salad evenly over the unbuttered sides of two slices of bread. Top with 1 or 2 slices of cheese and top with the remaining bread, buttered sides facing up.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sandwiches to the pan, cover with a lid, and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the sandwiches and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy and golden. If your pan is smaller, you may need to cook one sandwich at a time.
- Using a spatula, transfer the sandwiches to plates and cut in half.
Nutrition
A tuna melt goes great with a warm bowl of tomato soup. Try it with a simple green salad or some crunchy coleslaw for a fresh side. Dill pickles are perfect for a tangy crunch, and a handful of potato or tortilla chips adds extra crunch. For a lighter touch, slice up some apples or serve it with a fruity salad.
Cheeses with good melting properties that pair well with tuna include cheddar, Swiss, provolone, mozzarella, and gouda.
To keep your tuna melt from getting soggy, make sure to drain the tuna really well. Press out as much liquid as possible. This helps keep the bread crisp and the sandwich firm.
Solid 4 stars. I love dill pickle and typically would use sweet pickles in on tuna but figured I would try this. While the flavor profile is nice I am too accustomed to that sweet pickle and that is hard to get over. I made it with a nice rustic sourdough bread and extra sharp cheddar cheese. It was very good and I will make it again with that one minor adjustment.
Hi Drew, thanks so much for the 4-star review! Just a heads-up—this recipe just calls for "2 pickles spears." - we don't specify what type of pickle because we want to give you the freedom to choose your favorite.
Made this for dinner last night - super delicious!
The best tuna melt ever! This totally hit the spot 😃
Thank you!